Women’s Guidelines
2025 USSSA CHALLENGE CUP EVENT DATES
WOMEN’S D/E – JANUARY 23-26 (LAUNCH EVENT ON JANUARY 22)
WOMEN’S MAJOR/C – JANUARY 30-FEBRUARY 2 (LAUNCH EVENT ON JANUARY 29)
GENERAL OVERVIEW
Players must have played USSSA/GSL in 2024 and in good standing to be considered.
It is not necessary that they played in the Women’s program specifically. (could qualify via Mixed, Military, Black American, etc).
Any exception must be approved by the Challenge Cup Committee in writing.
Teams are required to adhere to the Challenge Cup uniform guidelines.
Managers are appointed by the State Director or Challenge Cup Committee if no State Director exists.
FORMAT FOR ALL DIVISIONS
2 Round Robin into Double Elimination Tournament
All Women’s program rules apply per National Rulebook.
The team will be registered as a “Challenge Cup” team. If you are playing Women’s D, you will be registered “Challenge Cup – WD” not as a regular “Women’s D” team. Do not create a team on the website for this event. The teams are created by National Office for this event with State Director’s approval. Our Committee will review every team and make appropriate changes.
ALL TEAMS MUST BE PREPARED TO PLAY AT THE SCHEDULED BEGINNING OF THE EVENT. WE CAN NOT TAKE SPECIAL REQUESTS. STANDARD GAME TIMES / START OF PLAY.
Entry Fee: TBA
Must pay online through Team Manager Account. No teams will be permitted to pay at the event.
You can only play one Women’s class during the weekend.
For example: Women’s C player cannot play Women’s D also, even if legal.
Any player found to be playing on multiple teams, both teams will be disqualified.
EQUIPMENT
We will be using approved Dudley softballs. 12″ ball for Male and 11″ ball for Female.
USSSA will supply all game softballs.
ANYONE CAUGHT STEALING OR PLACING TOURNAMENT BALLS IN BAG WILL BE EJECTED FROM THE TOURNAMENT. THE SECOND OFFENSE OF THIS ACTION TO THE SAME TEAM WILL RESULT IN THE TEAM BEING EJECTED FROM THE TOURNAMENT.
BAT GUIDELINES
All bats must have USSSA THUMBPRINT.
All bats will be compression tested.
All bats should be legal for USSSA Slow-Pitch competition.
USSSA Umpires or Directors reserve the right to remove any bat we feel is altered, damaged, or made to enhance ball/bat performance. We will take the bat for that game and return it upon the end of the game with the mutual understanding it will not be used for the remainder of the tournament. If the bat is caught being used a second time, the player using the bat at that time will be ejected from the tournament and will be asked to leave the park/complex. If a player refuses to give up the bat for the remainder of the game, he/she will be removed from the tournament and park/complex as well.
FOOTWEAR
Metal spikes of any kind are prohibited in USSSA play.
PARK RULES
http://usssaspacecoast.com/a-z-complex-policies/
UPON ENTERING THE TOURNAMENT, YOU, AS THE MANAGER, AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ AND UNDERSTAND OUR ABOVE RULES, POLICIES, DETAILS, AND GUIDELINES AND THAT YOU AGREE TO MAKE SURE TO FORWARD ALL THIS SAME INFORMATION TO YOUR TEAM SO THEY ARE AWARE AS WELL.
All games will take place at the USSSA Space Coast Complex.
LODGING
ALL Teams must stay in Brevard County. USSSA does have a list of great host hotels, condos etc. and that list is included for your convenience.
Please do not make your travel plans until you have been confirmed as paid and entered in to the event.
UPON ENTERING OUR TOURNAMENT
YOU AS THE MANAGER AGREE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT OUR RULES, POLICIES, DETAILS AND GUIDELINES AND AGREE TO MAKE SURE TO FORWARD INFORMATION TO YOUR TEAM.
WOMEN’S TEAM GUIDELINES
TEAM GUIDELINES
Women’s players MUST be the PRV of the previous calendar year to participate, and have played USSSA. ALL managers and players MUST be approved by your respective State Director.
Example: PRV of D in 2021, can only play D or above. PRV C on a D team in 2021, cannot play on a D team for the Challenge Cup. USSSA Challenge Cup teams are not allowed to have “Drop Downs” and/or “Chips” on their respective rosters. Please email your State Director if you feel you may be in violation of playing in a division.
- MAJOR DIVISIONS – No player PRV restrictions
- C DIVISIONS – PRV of C Elite or Lower
- D DIVISIONS – PRV of D Elite or Lower
- E DIVISIONS – PRV of E Elite or Lower
Women’s Major Teams are possibly allowed to combine bordering States for competition. For States to combine, this requires mutual approval of the respective State Director(s) and the Challenge Cup Committee through email ([email protected]).
Any combination of States must be approved in advance by December 1 of the previous year. For States to combine, this requires mutual approval of the respective State Director(s) and the Challenge Cup Committee through email ([email protected]).
1-2 players from a bordering state may be considered to help a State fill out their roster. This type of player must either live within 25 miles of the actual border, and/or have established playing history in the neighboring State. Such a player may not turn down playing for their Home State to be a border state pickup. Any such player must be approved by the Challenge Cup Committee in writing ([email protected])
You may have a maximum of 8 players from one team at the Women’s Major and Women’s C levels. Women’s D & E teams would allow at most 4 players from any one team. (Managers and coaches are not permitted to exceed the allowed counts.)
Additional team building guidelines:
States with 1-4 registered teams in that class, no maximum number of players per team.
States with 5-9 registered teams in that class, max 6 players per team at any level.
Any exemption (or any decision) would require the approval of the Challenge Cup Committee in writing ([email protected]).
TEAM AND PLAYER RANKINGS AND ELIGIBILITY
All States, Canadian Provinces, (and in some cases Countries) are allowed to have one team per class represent them at the Challenge Cup.
States or entities wishing to have multiple teams should follow these guidelines below.
If you have 20 or more registered in-class teams by November 1, you may send 2 teams.
If you have 50 or more registered in-class teams by November 1, you may send 3 teams.
If you have 100 or more registered in-class teams by November 1, you may send 4 teams.
We will be using the USSSA Player Ranking Value.
If there is a player NOT listed on a USSSA roster for this season, we will revert to the previous year/year’s rankings. All Players must be able to show a legal photo ID at all times (must be 18 years of age. You must have your photo ID on yourself, in your bat bag, or on the park/complex’s property.
Active military personnel are allowed to play either for the State where they are stationed currently or the State they maintain a home residence.
HOW TO CHECK PLAYER RANKINGS
The Athlete can go to their player locker and sign in at usssa.com/login to confirm their PRV. If you have issues, you may contact your State Director. In the absolute last resort, you may email: [email protected] if you have first tried your State Director.
TOURNAMENT WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURES
Should your team withdraw for any reason from this tournament once the team has been entered, the cancellation/withdrawal must occur prior to the tournament being “SOLD OUT” or prior to the posted deadline.
Should your team cancel after the specifications listed above, your team is still responsible for the entire entry fee.
Unpaid entry fees will result in the team and each individual player being placed on our Suspended Lists until payment is made in full.
The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify game times, playing locations, or tournament structure due to: field conditions, time constraints, safety issues, team count, or inclement weather.